Clinton trumps Republican in first debate, polls show

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HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Donald Trump blamed the moderator, a bad microphone and anyone but himself Tuesday after he was forced onto defense by Hillary Clinton’s cascade of critiques about his taxes, honesty and character in the first presidential debate.

Following the debate, a CNN poll of registered voters showed that 62 percent felt that Clinton won, with only 27 percent choosing Trump.

Still, Trump insisted he’d gotten the better of Clinton, awarding her a C-plus while declining to assign himself a grade. He also threatened to go harder after her in the next debate and said he’d planned to assail President Bill Clinton for his “many affairs” and stopped himself solely because daughter Chelsea Clinton had been in the room.

With precious few weeks left to campaign, both candidates returned promptly to the trail, with Clinton campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina and Trump in Florida. Those are among a handful of toss-up states whose winners could help determine the outcome of the election.

Clinton and Trump are slated to face each again on Oct. 9 in St. Louis.